Pressure regulator



Jan. 27. 1925.

w. A. ENGLAND PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed April 27, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVTOR WA- [727247242- WITNESS Jan. 27. 1925. 1,524,347

w. A. ENGLAND PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed April 27, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2WITNESS I INVENTOR fi d M41 rzy/azd Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNI-TED STAT-ES;

WILLIAM' A. ENGLAND,.OE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PRESSURE REGULATOR.

Application filed April-27, 1921.

1 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. ENGLAND, acitizen of the United States,.and a. resident of the city and county ofSan Francisco and State of California, have invented a new anduse'fulPressure Regulator, of which the following is a specification. I

The broad object of my invention is the provision otli' an apparatus forthe control of liquid pressure, which embodies'means for securing asubstantially constant pressure head irrespective ot'variations in thequantity of liquid in the supply tank. From a narrow view I wish toprovide means par ticularly useful in apparatus for. dispens ing softdrinks, whereby the syrup drawn from the serving faucet is under asubstair tia'lly constant pressure which is substantially uninfluencedby the pressure oithe syrup in a. reservoir of relatively large capacityfrom which the supply of syrup is taken thru appropriate connections.

My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, someofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the follow ingdescription of my invention. It isto'be understood that I do not limitmyself to the showing made by the said description,.as I may adoptvariant forms of my invention within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings :.Fig. 1 is. a vertical section thru theapparatus of my invention. Fig. 52 is an elevation, partly in section ofa modified arrangement of parts. Fig. dis a vertical sectionshowing. amodified form of vent tube, and Fig. 4 is a. detail of the same on anenlargedscale. Figs. 5 and 6 are elevation and plan respectively ofanother form of my invention.

My invention comprises a main storage tank 1 enclosing a supply chamberof any desired capacity, and formed with a cylindrical portion 2extending from the bottom. In the. center of the bottom of theextension, a discharge pipe 3 connects the structure with the dispensingfaucet- 4, which is also connected when necessary to a suitable-tankcontaining charged water. The side ofthe passage: into the dischargepipe is provided with threads 5 anda seat for the gasket 6 upon which isseated the nipple 7 of the smaller tank 8 enclosing the equalizerchamber. The equalizer tank is a cylindrical plinth in form, and of suchsize as to substantially fill the chamber formed" lIl'.tllB' ex;-tension 2, its top being flush with the" bot Serial No. 465,060.

tom of the main supply chamber. The nipple 7 is provided with threads toengage with threads 5 when the equalizer tank isturned to seat thenipple firmly against the gasket, direct comn'iunication from the maintank or chamber. into the discharge pipe is cutoil" and the discharge"pipe opens directly into the equalizer tank or chamber.

For convenience in assembling and disassembling, the equalizer tank isprovided with an inverted U-form handle 9, one leg of which also servesas a support for the capillary vent tube 11 which extends from the top.of the equalizer tank to a. point above the highest level of liquid inthe main tank. The equalizer is also formed with an inlet passage 12preferably'in the top, and of'a' capacityconsiderably less than that ofthe discharge passage.

lVith the parts assembled as shown in Fig. 1,,liquid in the. supplychamber will flow into the equalizer chamber-thin the passage 12, theair in the equalizerv chamber escaping thru the vent tube, which finallyfills with liquid'to the level in. the main tank. hen the faucet 4 isturned to draw ofi' liquid, and the liquid has begun to flow,the pressure of the liquid in the main tank is no longer felt in the equalizertank since the liquid inthe latter flows out faster than it is replacedthruthe passage 12. The liquid in the capillary vent tube which, in anycase is negligibleas a pressure column, cannot affect the pressure inthe equalizer tank since connection between the column of liquid in thetube and the liquid in the tank is broken immediately after. thefirst'flow from the latter, the few drops in the tube. being sucked outby the small lowering of level'in' the. equalizer tank. The air is thenpermitted to enter the equalizing tank through the capillary tube toprevent the creation of a vacuum. If the How thru the discharge pipewere continuous the equalizer tank would soon be empty and thereafter:the flow Wouldbethat permitted by the. passage 12. lVith' intermittentflow liowever,as with the serving of beverages, the equalizer. tank isreplenishedby the constant flow thru the passage 12', so that the levelof the liquid therein does not drop sufiiciently to materially aflectthe pressure which remains substantially constant, and is thatdetermined by the depth of the liquid in theequalizer tank. Since theshape of the equalizer tank is that of'a cylindrical plinth the effecton the pins sure head of the withdrawal of a given volume of liquid isrelatively small.

Because of the shape and arrangement of the two tanks, the last of theliquid in the main tank runs into the smaller tank. It should be notedthat the structure is readily disassembled for cleaning.

InFig. 2 I have shown a modified arrangement in which the main tank 16is fixed at a remote point, and is connected by a pipe 17. with theequalizer tank 18. A pipe 19 connects the equalizer tank with thefaucet, and a capillary vent tube 21 extends from the equalizer tank toa point above the level of the liquid in the main tank. The proportionsof the various passages and the operation are the same as in thestructure shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a modification of the vent tube structure.Instead of a capillary tube, I provide a tube 23 of, say, internaldiameter extending from the top of the equalizer tank to above theliquid in the main tank. A valve is arranged to be operated by theliquid inthe equalizer tank for opening the vent tube as the level fallsto permitair to enter, and closing it when the tank is full so thatliquid cannot flow into the tube and thus create a pressure head.

The top of the equalizer tank is formed with a flanged opening ofconvenient size adjacent one side. A flanged annular cap 24, upon whichthe tube 23 is mounted, is threaded upon the flange about the opening,thus providing a small chamber 26 extending above the rest of theequalizer tank. The cap is formed with an annular flange 27 surroundingthe opening in the tube, and forming a valve seat, upon which the softrubber gasket 28 of the valve 29 is adapted to rest to close the vent.The valve is made of cork and adapted to slide readily upon the stud 31fixed 011 the bottom of the tank. The length of the valve is a smallamount less than the distance between the cap 24; and the bottom of thetank so that the movement of the valve is limited; andthe head 32 isdisk-form to provide proper support for the gasket and to exertconsiderable buoyant force suddenly applied when the equalizer tank isfull, and liquid rises in the chant ber 26.

With the equalizer tank lull, the entire valve including the disk headis submerged and the valve is pressed to its seat to close the vent withits maximum buoyancy. As the liquid is drawn out of the equalizer tank,the level therein will fall somewhat, and as the head of the valveemerges, the buoyancy is thereby lessened, so that when the level falls,forexample, to the line 33, the buoyancy of the submerged portion of thevalve is insuflicient to retain the valve in the upper portion, and itfalls a very short distance, but enough to open the vent. Of course, the

lowering of the liquid level also tends to suck down the valve, sinceotherwise a partial vacuum would be created in the upper part of thetank; and the downward movement of the valve is therefore the totalizedeffect of the atmospheric pressure exercised on the valve thru the venttube and the lessening buoyancy of the liquid, both made efiective bythe lowering level as the liquid is drawn ofi'.

Thus, the valve opens as the liquid runs out of the equalizer tank,permitting air to enter so that the fiow is unimpeded. If the flow iscut off for a time, the level of the liquid rises as liquid from themain tank pours in thru the inlet passage. When the tank is full, thevalve is pressed firmly to its seat, closing the vent pipe, andpreventing the accumulation therein of a pressure column of the liquid.

As a matter of protection to the vent pi c, it is placed just inside oneleg of the hen le. It should be noted that the structure just describedis readily disassembled for cleaning and that it is simple and easilymade.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown another embodiment of my invention whichin several respects is to be preferred to the structures previouslydescribed. The chief reasons for this being its greater simplicity andreadiness of cleaning.

An equalizing chamber 36 is formed in the lower portion of the main tank37 by means of a double bottom. The inner bottom 38 is provided with apassage 39 thru which the liquid in the main supply chamber runs intothe equalizing chamber. A capillary vent tube 41 rises from the innerbottom 38 to the top of the tank where it is held by the bracket 43. Theouter bottom o1 the tank is provided with a threaded nipple 44: ofrelatively large diameter so as to give ready access to the equalizingchamber for the purpose of cleaning it. Connection is made to thedischarge pipe 40, leading to the dispensing faucet 47 by means of thereadily mounted and demonntcd coupling 48. The operation of the deviceis identical with the structure first explained.

I claim:

1. A liquid pressure receptacle comprising a chamber for supplyingliquid. a smaller chamber having a valve controlled discharge passageand in connnunication with said supply chamber by a connecting passageof less capacity than said discharge passage, and a capillary tubeconnecting said smaller chamber to the atmosphere whereby asnbstantially constant pressure head is nmintained in the smallerchamber irrespective of: variations in the quantity of liquid in thesupply chamber.

2. A liquid pressure receptacle comprising a tank, means for effectingthe provision in said tank of two chambers one of which is below thelevel of the other, said lower chamber having a valve controlleddischarge passage and being in communication with the upper chamber by aconnecting passage of less capacity than the discharge passage, and avent pipe connecting said lower chamber to the atmosphere whereby asubstantially constant head pressure is maintained in the lower chamberirrespective of the variations in the quantity of liquid in the upperreceptacle.

3. A liquid pressure receptacle con'iprising a tank, means for effectingthe provision in said tank of two chambers one of which is below thelevel of the other, a valve controlled discharge pipe, means for readilyrelcasably coupling the discharge pipe into the lower chamber, and avent pipe connecting said lower chamber to the atmosphere whereby asubstantially constant head pressure is maintained in the lower chamberirrespective of the variations in the quantity of liquid in the upperreceptacle.

=1. A liquid pressure receptacle comprising a double bottom tank havingan upper supply chamber and a lower equalizer chamber of relativelysmall vertical dimensions, a vent pipe connecting said lower chamber tothe atmosphere above the level of the liquid in the upper chamber, awide mouth discharge nipple for said equalizer chamber, a valvecontrolled discharge pipe, and a readily releasable coupling forconnecting the discharge pipe to said nipple, said equalizer chamberbeing connected to the supply of less capacity than the dischar epassage,

a I u b and a vent pipe connecting said lower chamber to the atmospherewithin the confines of the upper receptacle, whereby a substantiallyconstant pressure head is maintained in the lower chamber irrespectiveof variations of the quantity of liquid in the upper receptacle.

6. A liquid pressure receptacle comprising a chamber for supplyingliquid, a smaller chamber having a valve controlled discharge passageand in communication with said supply chamber by a connecting passage ofless capacity than said discharge passage, and a constantly open venttube extending to a point remote from the discharge passage andconnecting said. smaller chamber to the atmosphere whereby asubstantially constant pressure head is maintained in the smallerchamber irrespective of variations in the quantity of liquid in thesupply chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM A. ENGLAND.

